Apparatus for automatically mixing several kinds of stock-materials



March 29, 1960 TOMIJI TARUKAWA 2,930,595

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING SEVERAL KINDS OF STOCK-MATERIALS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sa 54 S5 @vazztor March 2, .1960 o 'r MIJI TARUKAWA 2,930,595 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING SEVERAL KINDS OF STOCK-MATERIALS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 In, UGIQ'IZD T. Twp Ara wa/ March 29, 1960 TOMIJI TARUKAWA 2,930,595

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING SEVERAL KINDS OF STOCK-MATERIALS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 29, 1960 TOMIJI TARUKAWA 2,930,595 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING SEVERAL KINDS OF STOCK-MATERIALS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 29, 1960 TOMIJI TARUKAWA 2,930,595

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING SEVERAL KINDS OF STOCK-MATERIALS Filed May 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E: El

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING SEVERAL KINDS OF STOCK-MATERIALS Tomiji Tarukawa, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan Application May 9, 1958, Serial No. 734,233 Claims priority, application Japan May 13, 1957 '6 Claims. (Cl. 259-2) This invention relates to an improved automatic mixing apparatus capable of thoroughly mixing several kinds of stock-materials, and more particularly to an apparatus of the type comprising several kinds of automatic measuring tanks and a mixer, said tanks and mixer being combined so that discharging of the stock-material from said tank into said mixer may be carried out simultaneously and automatically only when all the measuring tanks have been charged with desirable amounts of the stockmaterials, respectively, and mixing of the mixture in the mixer, discharging of the mixture out of the mixer, and charging of the stock-materials into the measuring tanks may be successively repeated.

An essential object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus capable of mixing several kinds of stock-materials in an elfective and accurate manner.

Said object and the other objects of this invention have been attained by the apparatus which comprises several kinds of measuring tanks, each being provided with a charge device for charging said tank with a predetermined amount of a stock-material and with a discharge device for discharging the charged material out of said tank; a mixing device for mixing the mixture charged therein from said measuring tanks, said mixing device being provided with a discharge device for discharging the mixture out of said mixing device; said members being combined so that discharging of the stock-materials out of the measuring tanks may be simultaneously carried out only when the charged materials in all of the measuring tanks have reached predetermined amounts, respectively, and charging. of the stock-materials into the measuring tanks, discharging of said materials out of said tanks into the mixing device, stirring action in the mixer, and discharging of the mixed mixture out of the mixer may be successive and automatically repeated.

The novel features of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, however, both as to constructions and operations together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar members are indicated by the same references, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an example of the present invention.

Fig. 1a is a schematic side view of the switch S in the example in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1b is a schematic side view of the switch S or 8;, in the example in Fig. 1. v

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the measuring tank adapted to be. used for the present invention, which is particularly applicable for measuring a powdery stock-material. V

Fig. 2a is a schematic side view of switch S seen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the measuring tank adapted to be used for the present 2,930,595 Patented Mar. 29, 1960 invention, which is particularly applicable for measuring a stock-liquid.

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of only the improved device of a further example of the present invention.

The embodiment of Fig. 1 relates to the case in which one kind of powdery stock-material and two kinds of stock-liquids are to be mixed. Referring to Fig. 1, the stock-material measuring device consists of a measuring tank 1 for measuring a desirable amount of a stock-liquid and other measuring tanks 2 and 3 for measuring desirable amounts of two kinds of powdery'stock-materials.

The charging and discharging operations of the stockmaterials into or out of the measuring tanks 1, 2 and 3 and the constructions of said tanks will be described more concretely in connection with the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3.

Switch S is constructed as shown clearly in Fig. In so that it may be opened when it is pushed at its movable piece C pivoted at a pivotal shaft C Switches S S S and S also have the same construction as the switch S Switches S and S are constructed as shown in Fig. 1b so that they may be closed when they are pushed at their movable piece C pivoted at a pivotal shaft C The switch S is combined with a bell-crank 5 pivoted turnably at its pivotal shaft 5a and having a ball 51; at its center arm so that when said bell-crank is turned, clockwise, the movable piece C of said switch may be pushed by the ball 5b. Turning of the bell-crank 5 is induced by electromagnets m and m, the movable iron cores of which are. respectively, connected to side arms of the bellcrank 5 through strings 5c and 50. Similarly, the switches S and 5 are, respectively, combined with the bell-cranks 6 and 7 so that they may be operated by two pairs of electromagnets m m and m m The switches S and S are combined with a bell-crank 15 pivoted turnably at a pivotal shaft 15a and having a ball 16 on its center am so that they may be opened when their movable pieces C are pushed by said ball 16. The side arms of said bell-crank 15 are, respectively, connected to the movable iron cores of the electromagnets m and m through strings 15b and so that when the electromagnet m is excited, said bell-crank 15 may be turned counterclockwise and when the electromagnet m is excited, the bell-crank 15 may be turned clockwise. Under the tanks 1, 2 and 3 is arranged a hopper 8 to receive the stock-materials discharged from said tanks, the discharge opening of said hopper being inserted into the right side center hole of a rotary type mixer 9 which is driven by an electric motor M through a reduction gear train 17. The circuit of the motor M is connected tofthe input terminals E and E of an electric source, not shown, through an electromagnetic switch mg so that said circuit may be closed when said switch is excited. The mixer 9 is provided with a discharge conduit 10 which is pivoted to the frame of the mixer so as to be turned up and down, one end of said conduit being inserted into the left side center hole of the mixer. The discharge conduit it is connected to the winding drum 11 through a string 14, the upper portion of which is wound around said drum. The winding drum 11 is coupled with the shaft of an electric motor M through a clutch 12 which is connected to an L-shaped crank lever 13 pivoted at a pivotal shaft 13a'so that the clutch 12 may be disengaged when said crank lever is turned counterclockwise by pulling the left side arm of said lever through a string 13b, said pulling being induced by the excitation of an electromagnet m; the moving iron core of which is connected to the lower end of said string 13b. The electric circuit of the motor M is connected to the input terminals E and E through an electromagnetic switch mg; so that another example of said circuit maybe closed when said switch is excited. A switch S having a movable piece C pivoted at a pivotal shaft C is constructed so that its movable contact C may be exchanged from the lower stationary contact to the upper stationary contact by the discharge conduit when the movable piece C is pushed by said conduit 1%. The switch S is connected to the electromagnetic switch mg so that said switch mg; may be excited only when said switch S is released by said conduit 10.

Electromagnets m m and m are, respectively, combined with the tanks 1, 2 and 3 so that when said electromagnets are excited, the discharge openings of said tanks are opened in a manner as described later in connection with the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3. The tank 2 is combined operationally with a weighing beam 4 so that a predetermined weight of said tank may be balanced at said beam 4, said beam 4 being .providedwith switches S and S; which are supported by a supporter 4b at the positions just below and above a balance beam 4a. The switches 5 and 8,, are constructed as shown in Fig. lb so that when the tank 2 is empty, the switch S is pushed by the beam 4a so as to be closed, and when the tank 2 has been charged with stock-material, the switch S pushed so as to be closed. The concrete combination of said beam 4 and the tank 2 and their operations will be described later in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 2.

Furthermore, the tank 2 is provided with a change-over switch S which is closed by the tank door 18 when it is entirely shut, said switch being connected in series to the circuits of the switches S and S The electromag net m is connected to the switch S so that when the tank 2 is empty and the door 18 is entirely shut, the electromagnet m is excited through the switches S and S so as to turn the bell-crank 6 clockwise. The electromagnet m is connected to the switch S so that when the tank 2 has been charged with stock-material and the beam 4a is lifted, the electromagnet m is excited through the switches S and S so as to turn the bell-crank 6 counter-. clockwise.

Similarly, the tank 3 is also combined with another weighing beam, not shown, of the same construction as the beam 4 and with electromagnets m and m but the description as to the connections and operations of said electromagnets m and m and as to said weighing beam are omitted herein, because they are the same as those of the members m m and 4.

On the other hand, the tank 1 is provided with a changeover switch S having a movable piece C pivoted at a pivotal shaft C and a movable contact C capable of being exchanged from one side to the other side when said piece C is pushed by a ball 46a, said switch S being clearly shown in Pig. 3. The ball 46a is supported by one arm of a bell-crank 46 which is pivoted at a pivotal shaft 46b. The switch S and-the bell-crank 46 are combined withthe electromagnets mi and m so that when the tank 1 is empty, the bell-crank 46 is turned clockwise for pushing the switch S to close the circuit of the electromagnet m and when the tank 1 has been charged with stock-material, the bell crank is turned counterclockwise so as to disengage from said switch S to close the circuit of the electromagnet m The switches S S and S are connected in series and in this series circuit is connected a time .switch R which operates with a time lag to open the contact piece r said time lag being selected so that the circuit of the electromagnets m m and m may be opened upon the complete discharge of the stockmaterials-frorn the tanks 1, 2 and 3 into the hopper 8. In the circuit of the electromagnet m is inserted a time relay R which acts with a time lag to close the contact piece 1 said time lag being selected so that the circuit of said electromagnet "21 may be closed upon the completion oft-he stirring of the mixture in the mixer 9. In the circuit of the electromagnet m is inserted a time switch R;, which acts with a time lag to close the contact piece r said time lag being selected so that said electromagnet m may be excited upon the completion of the discharge of the mixture out of the mixer 9. The operation of the above embodiment of Fig. 1 is as follows:

Fig. 1 shows the state in which the tanks 1, 2 and 3 have been fully charged with stock-materials and the balance beam 4a is in its upper position. In this state, the electromagnetic switch mg: is in connection with the input terminals E and E so as to be excited, whereby the circuit of the motor M is closed and the motor M is running, thus operating the mixer 9.

On the other hand, the electromagnets m m, and m are excited by the following circuit.

Accordingly, the discharge openings of the tanks 1, 2 and 3 are opened and the stock-materials are discharged from said tanks into the mixer 9 through the hopper 8. However, since the time switch R is designed so that the contact piece r may be opened upon the complete discharge of the stock-materials in all of the tanks, the circuits of the electromagnets m m and m are opened upon said complete discharge. For said object, the exciting circuit of each of the electromagnets m m and m may be provided with a time switch toropening said circuit upon the complete discharge of the stock-material in the tank to which said electromagnet belongs.

When the stock-material in the tank 2. has been completely discharged, the balance beam 4a discends, whereby the switch S is closed and the switch S is opened. By the opening of the switch 8;, the circuit of the electromagnet m is opened. By the closing of the switch S the electromagnet m, is connected to the input terminals E and E through the circuit (E -S --S -m -E said switch S1 having been closed by closing the door 18 in such a manner as will be described later in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 2, whereby the electromagnet I714 is excited and the bell-crank 6 is turned clockwise to open the switch S The operations of the bell-crank 7 and electromagnets m and m are the same as the above-mentioned operations of the bell-crank 6 and electromagnets m an 14, so that the descriptions as to the operations of the weighing beam to be combined with the tank 3 and of connecting lines for connecting said beam to the electromagnets m and m,; are omitted herein.

On the other hand, by the closing of the switch 5,, the electromagnet m is connected to the input terminals E and E through the circuit (Eg--m 3' --S E,'), and the electromagnet m is excited, whereby the bell-crank 15 is turned counterclockwise and the switch Sr, is opened and the switch S is closed. When the material in the tank 1 is discharged, the bell-crank 46 is turned clockwise to. push the switch S whereby the contact piece of the switch S is changed'over to the right side and the electromagnet m is connected to the input terminals E and E so as to be excited; By excitation of the electromagnet m the bell-crank .5 is turned clockwise to push the switch S to be opened.

Accordingly, when all of the tanks 1, 2 and 3 have completely discharged their stock-materials, all of the switches S S and S are opened. a

After a predetermined time lag suflicientto thoroughly mix the charged material in the mixer 9, the time switch R operates, and the following circuit is closed:

whereby the electromagnet m is excited and pulls one end of the L-shaped crank lever 13. By said pulling, the crank lever 13 is turned counterclockwise so as to disengage the clutch 12 and the string 14 is unwound by the self-weight of the conduit 10 so as to turn down said conduit, whereby the mixture in the mixer 9 is discharged out through the conduit 10. The movable contact piece C of the switch S is changed over to the lower stationary contact by the downward turning of the conduit 10, but

since the switch' S is in the opened state-as already described the exciting circuit of the electromagnetic switch mg is not closed and the motor M is maintained in its stopped state. Since the time lag of the time .switch R is selected so that it may operate upon the complete discharge of the mixture out of the mixer 9, the electromagnet m is excited upon said complete discharge through the contact piece r and the switch S whereby the bell-crank 15 is turned clockwise and takes the state as shown, thus causing opening of the switch S and closing of the switch S By the opening of the switch the exciting circuits of the time switch R and electromagnet m are opened. By the opening of the electromagnet m the clutch 12 is engaged. By the closing of the switch S the following circuit is closed:

E S- C under stationary contact of S exciting coil of mg -E whereby the electromagnetic switch mg is closed and the motor M is driven. Accordingly, the conduit 10 is wound up by the winding drum 11 through the string 14. When the conduit 10 is lifted up to the position adapted to push the switch S the contact piece C of the swicth S is changed over to the upper stationary contact by said conduit, whereby the exciting circuit of the electromagnetic switch mg; is opened at the switch S and the motor M is stopped.

' As already stated, since the operations for charging the tanks 1, 2 and 3 with stock-materials have been started upon the opening of the circuits of the electromagnets m m and m discharging of the materials into the mixer 9 from said tanks is automatically carried out again upon the complete charging of the stock-materials into all of the tanks. In such a manner, as stated above, the automatic charging of the materials into the mixer and automatic discharging of the mixture out of the mixer can be repeatedly carried out.

In Fig. 2 is shown the measuring tank 2 and the devices for charging a predetermined amount of a powdery stock-material into said tank. The tank 2 is provided with a door 18 for opening and closing the discharge opening of the tank, said door being hinged by a hinge 18a. The tank 2 is further provided with a switch S and a winding drum 20 which is coupled with the shaft of an electric motor M through a clutch 21. This clutch is connected to an L-shaped crank lever 22 pivoted turnably at a pivotal shaft 22:: so as to be disengaged when said lever is turned counterclockwise by the pulling of the left side end of said lever by an electromagnet m through a string 23, the lower end of which is connected to the movable iron core of said electromagnet. The switch S is so constructed, as shown clearly in Fig. 2a, that its movable contact C can be brought into contact with a contact P from another contact P when it is pushed by the door 18 being in the closed state. Above the tank 1 is arranged an accumulator 24 containing a powdery stock-material. The accumulator is provided with a discharge pipe 25 opening above the tank 2 and with a screw conveyer 26 for feeding the material into said pipe 25, the shaft of said conveyer being driven by an electric motor M through a pulley 27 attached to said shaft, another pulley 28 attached to the shaft of the motor M and a belt 29 hung on said pulleys.

The tank 2 issuspended by a string 32 hung on pulleys 30 and 31. The lower end of said string 32 is connected to the right end of a lever 34 pivoted at a pivotal shaft 34a, the left end of said lever being connected to a pad 33 mounted on the weighing platform of weighing scales 4 so as to push said pad. Switches 8 and S as shown clearly in Fig. 1b are supported by a supporter 4b at the positions above and below the balance beam 4a, said switches being arranged so that when they are pushed .by the'beam 4a, they may be closed.

The circuit of the motor M is connected to the input terminals E and E through an electromagnetic switch mg so that said circuit is closed only'when said electro-. magnetic switch is excited. Another electromagnetic switch mg, is inserted in the circuit of the motor M so that said circuit may be closed only when said electromagnetic switch is excited. A bell-crank 6 pivoted at'a pivotal shaft 6a and having a ball 6b on its center arm is combined with the switch S 'so that when said bell crank is turned clockwise, said switch may be pushed by said ball, thus opening said switch. Both ends of the right and left side arms of the bell-crank 6 are connected, respectively, to the movable iron cores of the electromagnets m and m so that when said electromagnets m and m are excited, the bell-crank 6 may be turned counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively.

The operation of the apparatus in Fig. 2 is as follows:

The shown state relates to the case in which the tank 2 is empty, the door 18 is in its closed position, and the balance beam 4a is lowered to close the switch S In this state, the following circuit is closed:

whereby the electromagnetic switch mg, is excited to close the circuit of the motor M By the closing of the circuit of the motor M this motor starts and drives the screw conveyer 26, whereby the stock-material in the accumulator 24 is discharged into the tank 2. When the stockmaterial charged into the tank 2 reaches a predetermined amount, the balance beam 4a is restored to its upper position and the switch S is opened, wherebythe circuit of the motor M is opened by the opening of the exciting circuit of the electromagnetic switch mg.,, and the screw conveyer 26 is stopped so as to cease charging of the stock-material into the tank 2 from the accumulator 24. By the upward movement of the balance beam 4a, the switch S is closed so as to excite the electromagnet m whereby the bell-crank 6 is turned counterclockwise and the switch S is closed. By the closing of the switch S the following circuit is closed:

Accordingly, the electromagnet m is excited and pulls the string 23 to make the crank lever 22 turn counterclockwise, whereby the clutch 21 is disengaged and the string 19 is unwound by the self-weight of the door 18 and the weight of the material mounted on said door. By said opening of the door 18, the material in the tank 2 is discharged out.

With discharge of the stock-material in the tank, the balance beam 4a is lowered to close the switch S but the exciting circuit of the electromagnetic switch mg, is not closed, because the contact piece C of the switch S has been changed over to the contact P by the opening of the door 18. Accordingly, the motor M is maintained in its stopped state and charging of the stockmaterial into the tank 2 is not started.

On the otherhand, the following circuit is made upon the opening of the door 18, because the contact piece C is changed over from the contact P to the contact P E -C P exciting coil of mg -E By the closing of said circuit, the electromagnetic switch mg is excited to close the circuit of the motor M whereby the motor M starts, but the clutch 21 is in its disengaged state, so that the motor idles. Upon the complete discharge of the material out of the tank 2, the time switch R operates and the circuit of the electromagnet m is opened, whereby the crank lever 22 is restored so as to bring the clutch 21 to its engaged state. By this restoration of the clutch 21, the winding drum 20 is driven and winds up the string to close the door 18. Upon the complete closing of the door 18, the ex citing circuit of the electromagnet mg, is opened and the circuit of the 'electromagnet mg, is closed, becausethe contact piece C of the switch S is changed over front 7 the contact Pg 'to the contact P whereby the motor M3 is stopped, and the motor M is driven to start :charging of the stock-material into the tank Zfrom the accumulator .24 as already described. Upon the complete closing of the door 18, the circuit (E -C ---'P -S -m -E is closed and the electromagnet "1,; is excited, whereby the bell-crank 6 is restored to the shown state by the clockwiseturning thereofand the switch S, is opened. The above-mentioned operation repeatedly carried out. As described above, the charging and discharging of the stock-material into and out of the tank 2 are automatically carried out. a

In Fig. 3 is shown a measuring tank 1 which is particularly suitable for stock-liquid. This tank 1 is provided with :a charge opening 35 having a charge valve 35a, a control lever 36 connected at its right side end to the rotatable shaft of said charge valve 35a, a discharge valve 38, a float 37, a push float 39, levers 43 and 44 pivoted, respectively, at the pivotal shafts 43a and 44a connecting levers 49, 42 and 45, a discharge valve supporting lever 40 which is pivotedat one end to a pivotal shaft 40a and articulated at another end to the connecting lever 42, abell-c'rank 46 pivoted at a pivotal shaft 46b and articulated at the end of one arm thereof to the lower end of the connecting lever 45, and another bell-crank 48 pivoted at a pivotal shaft 481: and articulated at the end of one arm thereof to the connecting lever 49. The same electromagnet mg as that of the embodiment of Fig. 1 is connected, at its movable iron core, to the lower end of the connecting lever 49. The bell-cranks 46 and 48 are, respectively, provided with balls 46a and 48a on'their arms and levers 43 and 44 are, respectively, provided with balls 43b and 44b on their right side portions.

Operation of the apparatus in Fig. 3 is as follows:

When the liquid in the tank 3. reaches a predetermined amount, the charge valve 35a is closed by the upward turning of the lever 36 caused by ascent of the float 37, whereby charging of the liquid into the tank 1 is stopped. By the upward movement of the float 37, the lever 44 is turned clockwise, whereby the bell-c'rank-46 is turned counterclockwise and the contact piece C of the switch S is changed over from the contact P to the contact P By this changeover, such an electromagnet m as shown in Fig. l is excited so as to turn the bell-crank in Fig. 1. When the electromagnetm is excited in the same manner as described in connection with the apparatus in Fig. 1, the lever 49 is pulled down and the discharge valve 38 is opened through the levers 43, 42 and 40, because the lever 40 supporting the valve 38 is turned .up by. said pulling. By said downward pulling of the lever 49, the bell-crank 48 is turned counterclockwise until it is stopped by a stop 480. The balls 46:: and 48a act to securely maintain the turned positions of the bell-cranks 46 and 48 and the opened state of the valve 38 By' the opening of the valve 38, the charged stock-liquid is discharged out of the tank. Upon the complete discharge, the push float 39 pushes the valve 38 through the lever -4tl,"whereby the valve .38 is closed and lever 49 is pulled up by the levers 43 and 42, said upward movement of the lever 49 causing clockwise turning of the bell-crank 48. On the other hand, the float 3'7 .discends, whereby the lever 36 is. turned downward and the'lever 44 is turned counterclockwise. By the downward turning of the lever 36, the charge valve 35a is opened to start charging of the liquid into the tank '1. By the counterclockwise turning of the lever 44, .the bell-crank 46 .is turned clockwise .so as to push the switch S whereby the-contact piece C is changed over from the contact P to the contact P in such a state, charging of the stock-liquid into the tank 1 progresses and the above stated operation is repeatedly carried out upon the complete charging of the. stockliquid into the tank 1. The embodiment of Fig. 4 :relatesto the case in which the mixture is of .thepure :liquid state and only :the mixer 8 and connection of the device for discharging or the stock: liquids into the measuring tanks are ditierent from those of the embodiment of Fig. 1. Connections and operations of the bellcranks 5, 6 and 7, switches S S and S elec' trornagnets m --m and m m and mm are almost same as those in the embodiment of Fig. 1, so that the description of said operations and indication of said connection are omitted herein. The switches S12, S and S are constructed in the same manner as the switch shown in Fig. la.

in the state shown, the following circuit isclo'sed:

E -S --exciting coil of mg -E whereby the electromagnetic switch mg is excited so as to close the circuit of the motor M By the closing of said circuit, the motor M starts and drives the stirring shaft, 53 in the mixer 9a through a pulley 50 attached to the shaft of the motor M a pulley 51 attached to said shaft 53 and a belt 52 hung on said pulleys, whereby the liquids in the mixer 9a are mixed. Upon the closing of the switch S the time switch R is excited, but its con-' tact piece r is not closed because of its time delay. The time lag of the time switch R is selected so that said switch operates upon the completion of the mixing of the liquid in the mixer 9a. Accordingly, when said time lag has elapsed, the electromagnet m is connected to the input terminals E and E through the Contact piece k and switch S whereby the bell-crank 54 pivoted at a pivotal shaft 54a is turned counterclockwise by the pulling of the left side arm of said crank by a string 55 which is connected to said arm and the movable iron core of the electromagnct M13.

By the counterclockwise turning of the bell-crank 54, the switch S is pushed by the ball 54b supported by the center arm of said crank so as to be opened and the switch S is released from said ball so as to be closed.

By the opening of the switch S exciting circuits of the clcctro'magnet m and the electromagnetic switch mg are opened. Accordingly, the motor M stops and the stirring operation of the mixer 9a is stopped. On the other hand, the discharge valve 66 provided in a discharge opening a of the mixer 9a is pushed upward by the counterclockwise turning of the bell-crank 54 through articulated connecting levers 56, 57 and 59, said lever 57 being pivoted at a pivotal shaft 58, whereby the mixed liquid in the mixer 9a is discharged into a container 61.

The time lag of the time switch R inserted in the circult of the "switch S is selected so that said switch R operates upon an elapse of a time suiiicient to discharge completely "the liquid from the mixer 9a. Upon the operation of the time switch R the electromagnet m is excited through the contact piece r and switch S whereby the bell-crank 54 is turned clockwise through a string 55a, and is 'retored to the state as shown and at the same time as said restoration, the valve 60 is closed by the reverse operation of the connecting levers 56, 57 and 59.

A switch S =is connected in series to the circuit of the switches .8 and S The switch S is combined with a bell-crank 62 which is turnably supported by a pivotal shaft62a so that said switch S may be opened by courtterclockwise turning of said crank, said turning being induced by excitation of an electromagnet m Said excitation of the electromagnet m is induced by the closingof the switch S ,.sothat discharging of the stock'- liquid into the mixer from the measuring tanks is stopped during the stirring operation of the mixer 9a. Upon-the complete dischargeof the liquid from the mixer 9a, the electromagnet m is excitedat the same time as the excitation of the electromagnet "114 through the contact piece r and the switch S whereby the bell-crank 62 is restored.

The embodiment of'Fig. 5, relates to the case in which the mixed material is in the kneaded state, said embodimeat being almost the same as the embodiments of Fig. l or Fig. 4 except the mixing device. only the mixing device is shown.

The mixer 9b is of a special type having a large upper opening and is supported so that discharging of the kneaded mixture in the mixer 9b may be carired out after the mixer is turned by 180 so as to direct the opening downward. For said object, the mixer 9b is rotatably supported by a frame 62 so as to be rotated by an electric motorM through a gear 63 attached to the mixer body, a gear 64 attached to the shaft of said motor and a chain belt 65 hung on said gears. The mixer 9b is provided with a stirring backet therein which is driven by an electric motor M through a pulley 50 attached to the shaft of said motor M a pulley 51 attached to the shaft of said backet and a belt 52 hung on said pulleys. The mixer 9b is further provided with switches 8 and S each having a push piece 70 pivoted at a pivotal shaft 70a, said switches being positioned so that said push piece 70 may be pushed by a pin 69 attached to the mixer when the opening of the mixer is directed up and down, respectively, and said switches being constructed so that when said push piece 70 is pushed by the pin 69, said switch S may be closed and said switch S may be opened.

In the shown embodiment, the electromagnetic switch mg is excited through the switch S from the input terminals E and E and the circuit of the motor M is in connection with the input terminals E and E whereby the stirring bacliet in the mixer 9b is operated. On the other hand, the time relay R is excited from the terminals E and E through a switch S The time relay R is designed so that it may operate after a predetermined time required for the thorough stirring of the kneaded mixture in the mixer 9b. Upon the elapse of said time lag, the time relay R operates to close the conthat piece r whereby the the electromagnetic switch mg is excited through the contact piece 1' and switch S Accordingly, the motor M starts so as to rotate the mixer 9b through the chain belt 65. When a pin 67 attached to the chain belt 65 reaches a certain height, the left arm of a bell-crank 66 is pulled upward by a string 68 which is connected to said arm and pin 67, whereby the bell-crank 66 is turned clockwise around its pivotal shaft 66b, the switch S is opened, and the switch S is closed. The time whenthe bell-crank 66 is turned by the pin 67 is selected so that said turning may be induced just upon rotation of the mixer 9b by 180. In this state, the switch S is opened by the pin 69 to open the circuit of the electromagnetic switch mgr, whereby the motor M is stopped. By the opening of the switch S the electromagnetic switch mg is opened and the motor M is stopped so as to stop the mixer in its inverted state for discharging the kneaded mixture therefrom. By the closing of the switch S another time relay R is excited. The time lag of the relay R is selected so that said relay may operate upon the complete discharge of the kneaded mixture out of the mixer. Upon the elapse of said time lag, the contact piece r is closed and the exciting circuit of the electromagnetic switch mg, is connected to the input terminals E and E through the contact piece r and the switch S whereby the motor M is connected to the terminals E and E so as to be rotated in the direction reverse to that of the former case. Accordingly, the mixer 9b is reversely rotated through the chain belt 65, but is stopped upon the restoration of the pin 67 to its initial position because the bell-crank 66 is pulled by the string 68 so as to be turned counter clockwise and the switch S is opened, whereby the mixer 9b is restored so as to be charged with the stock-materials from the measuring tanks, not shown. On the other hand, upon starting of the reverse rotation of the mixer 9b, the switch S is closed again so as to excite the electromagnetic switch mg whereby the motor M is started again and the mixing operation begins. Upon restoration of the mixer 9b, the movable piece 70 of the Accordingly,

switch S is pushed by the pin 69 and the switchS -yis closed, so that when said' switch is used for inducing the charging of the stock-materials into the mixer from the measuring tanks in the same manner as in the case in Fig. 1 or Fig. 4, said charging can be automatically carried out upon restoration of the mixer 9b.

In such a manner as stated, the charging of the materials into and discharging of the kneaded mixture out of the mixer can be automaticallycarried out.

According to this invention, as described above, dischargings of the stock-materials from all measuring tanks are stopped until all said tanks have been charged with stock-materials of predetermined amounts, respectively, and said dischargings are simultaneously carried out into a mixer. The mixture in the mixer is discharged upon the complete mixing'thereof, and then charging of the stock-materials into the measuring tanks is carried out.

Accordingly, the mixing of several kinds of stock-materials can be very efiectively carried out.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish my invention to be limitedthereto, since manymodifications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope'of my invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically mixing several kinds of stock-materials, which comprises measuring tanks for several different materials, each measuring tank being provided with a charging device for charging said tank with a predetermined amount of a stock-material and with a discharge "device for discharging the charged material out of said tank, and a mixing device for mixing the mixture charged therein from said measuring tanks, said mixing device being provided with a discharge device for discharging the mixture from said mixing device, interlocking control means for said measuring tank charging device so arranged that the stock-materials in the measuring tanks may be simultaneously discharged into said mixingdevice only when the charged materials in all the measuring tanks have reached the predetermined amounts, said control means being so arranged for charging of-the stock-materials into the measuring tanks, discharging of said materials out of said tanks into the mixing device, stirring. action in the mixing device, and discharging of the mixed mixture out of the mixer may be successively and automatically repeated.

2. Apparatus for automatically mixing several kinds of stock-materials according to claim 1, in which said interlocking control means include a plurality of quickly turnable devices combined with electric switches which are opened or closed by turning of said devices.

3. Apparatus for automatically mixing several kinds of stock-materia1s according to claim 1, in which each measuring tank is provided with an electric switch, a quickly turnable device operated by elcctromagnets which is turnably supported so as to open said switch when turned to one side when said tank is empty and to close said switch when turned to the other side when said tank is charged with a desired amount of the stockmaterial, and an electromagnetically operated means for discharging the stock-material out of each said tank, said switches of all the measuring tanks being connected in series to the input terminals of an electric source through said electromagnets, and a time switch being connected in series in said electric circuit so as to open said circuit with a time lag required for the complete discharge of the stock-material out of said tanks, a mixing device provided with a hopper to receive the stock-materials from the measuring tanks, and a discharge conduit that may be lowered for emptying said mixing device, said mixing device being combined with a winding device for lifting or lowering said conduit, a weighing beam device provided with electric switches combined with the other electric switches provided at the measuring stockqnaterials discharged from said tanks, the discharge device of said tanks being so arranged that the discharge operation of said tanks will be commenced only upon the'co'mplete discharge of the mixed material from said mixer, the discharge device of said mixer being provided with an electric device which makes the discharge operation of said mixer commence upon-the complete mixing of the materials in said mixer.

5. A system of automatically mixing several kinds of stock-material which comprises several kinds of measu'ring tanks, each tank being provided with a charge device ,forcharging a predetermined amount of a stockmaterial therein and with a discharge device for discharging the charged material therefrom, .a mixer ar' ranged to receive the stock-materials discharged out of said measuring tanks and provided with a mixing device therein and a discharge device for discharging the mixed material therefrom,- an electric switch device which is so related to the discharge devices of said measuring tanks that only when the materials in all said tanks have reached to predetermined amounts, the discharging operation of said tanks may be simultaneously carried out, an electric device which operates the mixing device of said mixer only when said mixer is charged with the materials from the measuring tanks, and an electric switch device which is so related to the discharge device of said mixer that the discharge operation of the mix- 1'2 ture in said mixer may be carried out upon the complete mixing of said mixture, the charge device of each measuring tank being provided with an electric device which makes the charging operation into said tank commence upon the complete discharge of the stock-material in said tank.

.6. A system of automatically mixing several kinds of stock-materials which comprises several kinds of stockmaterial storage tanks, each tank being provided with a discharge device for discharging the stocked material therefrom, measuring means for measuring a predetermined amount of stock-material from each said storage tank, a mixer arranged to receive the stock-materials from said tanks, a discharge device for discharging the mixed material therefrom, and an electric switch device which is so related to the discharge device of said mixer and to the discharge devices of said tanks that the discharge operation of said tanks may be commenced upon the complete discharge of the mixed material in said mixer, the discharge device of each tank being provided with a switch acting to stop the discharging operation of said tank upon the discharge of a predetermined amount of the stock-material, and the discharge device of the mixer being provided with an electric device which makes the discharge operation of said mixer commence upon the complete mixing of the materials in said mixer.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,037,135 Tomlinson et a1. Aug. 27, 1912 2,243,188 Biach May 27, 194.1 2,328,240 Wiegand Aug. 31, 1943 2,463,995 Nielsen Mar. 8, 1949 2,662,665 Harper Dec. 15, 1953 2,712,203 Green July 5, 1955 2,727,733 Carswell Dec. 20, 1955 2,858,594 Eirich et a1. .Nov. 4, 1958 

